Dispensers for prophylactics



June 7, 1955 D. WABER ETAL DISPENSERS FOR PROPl-IYLACTICS Filed Oct. 1'7. 1950 DESPENSERS FOR PROPHYLACTICS Donald Waber and Raymond Eraunstein, Jr., v

Philadelphia, Pa.

Application October 17, 1950, Serial No. 190,478

12 Claims. (Cl. 221-232) Our invention relates to a new and useful dispenser for prophylactics and has for one of its objects to: produce a small, compact, pocket size package from which a number of separate articles or individually wrapped items may be dispensed, one at a time, as desired or required.

Another object of our invention is to produce a package which is adequately sealed whenclosed to keep out particles of tobacco, .dirt or other foreign substances with which the package might come in contact, as when carried in a persons pocket, thus retaining the contentsrvin a clean and sanitary condition. l y ,j Another object of this invention is to producea disf pensing receptacle including a box-like or container body having an opening at the top and one end, the. latter constituting an outlet or mouth, anda closure slidably mounted in an inclined plane sloping downwardly from the rear towards the front ofthe body and including a top and front for normally closing thetop opening vand outlet and provided with an ejector depending from the inside surface of the top portion to engage-the foremost one of a number of articles in the receptacle for` moving States Fatent 2,710,114 Patented `lune 7, 1955 CCv Fig-3 is an enlarged section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2`

with all parts in operative condition and the closure in the closed position.

Fig. 4 is a section on the-line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the closure partially open during the dispensing operation. 1

Fig.` 6 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. l showing one way in which the joint between the front of the closure and the bottom of the body may be constructed.

Fig. 7 is a similar view on the line 7-7 of Fig; 1

i illustrating one form of closure fastener.

Fig. 8 is a similar view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1 displaying a type of sliding connection between the body 3 and closure.

ln carrying out our invention as herein embodied 10 and 11 represent, respectively, a box-like body and a closure producedfrom relatively stiff material, such as what is commonly known as plastic, having some inherent flexible or pliable qualities or characteristics and opaque,

- translucent or transparent.

said foremost article forwardly during the dispensing f Another object of this invention is to employ-,dis

pensable individually wrapped items or articles having some compressibility which characteristic,cooperates with parts of the dispenser to aid in the operation of the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide unique A means for limiting the forward and retracting movements A further object of our invention is to divide-the interior of the body to provide a compartment for holding the articles to be dispensed and resilient means such as la zigzag ribbon-like spring, for urging said articles forwardly, and further providing means to allow the insertion of an instrument for temporarily retainingthe resilient means compressed an extra amount whilethe vbody of the apparatus is being loaded.

A still further object'of this invention is to construct the cooperating 'parts of the body and closure so that when the latter is closed the several joints will be practically sealed against the entrance of foreign substances into the body of the apparatus. -Y

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists of the details of construction and combina- Vtion of elements hereinafter set forth and then desig' nated by the claims.

ln order that those skilled in the art to which-this invention appertains may understand'how to make and rear wall 14 so that the top of said body and the frontare normally open, the latter constituting an outlet through which articles in the package are to be dispensed. The upper edges of the side walls, preferably, are inclined in al downwardly sloping direction from the rear wall '14'A as plainly'shown in Figs. l, 3 and 5.

Runways or track guides 15, Figs. 4, 5 and 8, are formed in the inner faces ofboth sidewalls longitudinally thereof and are inclined in a downwardly sloping direction from their rear portions towards and to their forward ends and where the upper edges of said walls are similarlyinclined said runways run parallel to the side wall upperf. edges adjacent thereto;

-The closure 11 includes a top wall 16 and a pendant frfont`17 substantially. .fitting within the confines of the body 'ft'o close the normally-open upper portion of said body and the front outlet. Along the side edges of the top wa1l'16 of saidlclosure: are lformedthe tongues or tracks 18 which are slidably Vfitted into the runways 15 to permit the closure to slide to and-fro. The tongues should snugly lit the runways to reduce to a minimum the possibility of the closure accidentally opening. The lower edge of the closure front and forward edge of the body bottom are provided with companion rabbet joint formations 19, Fig. 6, to provide a dirt proof joint when the closure is closed and similar rabbet joint formations 20 are formed on the rear edge of the closure top wall and the upper edge of the body back wall forl the same purpose.

To hold the closure in a closed position a suitable holding means is provided and, for purposes of illustration, said holding means is shown as comprising a projection 21, Fig. 7, formed with and extending from the inner face of a body side wall 13 for registration with a socket 22 in a side edge of the closure front wall i7. Of course the locations of the projection and socket can be reversed, that is, the projection might be on the closure and the socket in the body wall. Also the-fastening means may be provided in multiple, one at each tom `wall l2 of the body, as depicted in Fig. 5.

side of the closure and body, as suggested in Fig. 2, orsaid lfasteningmeans .mightbe arranged between the closure front wall and the bottom of the body.

The articles 23 to be dispensed, rubber prophylactics, are Erolled :up and individually vwrapped l=with va 'band 124,

,FigsJZrand'4,:toprevent unrolling. These articlesgtherefore, are elastic and compressible vto some extent :and these-qualities-.rnay be utilized in the operation of the dispenser.

.AnejectingmeanslZ-such as a'r'ib, depends from the underneath fface of the closurevtop -wall la adajcent to but 4spaced from the front wall I7 `of 'said closure and the spacing is such'that thefdistanceibetween*the ejecting means and the front wall is slightly greater :than -the depth Vof "an Iarticle '23, that is, the ydimension of -said article ybetween its front and rear edges. The articles 23 are urged forwardly towards the front outletbyresilient 1neans126 such asaat ribbon spring wound in z'ig* zagform-and located on1the bottornof the'body between the rear wallland the last one of a number `of articles 'arrangedfin a row Aalso on the bottom of the body.

The ejector 25 is adapted to lie between-the foremost article and the next succeeding article, when more than one article is in the device, fand behind the article at the forwardend of the body, regardless of the number of articles in the device. Due to this arrangement any article or articles behind the ejector will be held in Vcontact therewith by the -spr'ing 26 and movediforwardly as said ejector is projected towards the outlet because 'of the forward sliding movement of the closure but such articles .cannot pass the ejector for movement to the outlet. The 'article in front `of the ejector 25 will be pushed forwardly thereby as the closure is projected 'forwardly and simultaneously the front wall V17 will `'be moved away from the front of the body so as to open the outlet through which the foremost article will be ejected by descending from the forward edge of the bot- As the ejector continually approaches closer to the bottom wall ofthe body as the closure is projected forwardly said ejector will gradually have a greater amount of its 'height engaged with the articles on both -sides thereof thus insuring vthe positive ejection of the vforward article and the retention of a succeeding article. To make it rather easy to slide the closure by pressure of the thumb on the-top Wall of said closure a roughened area'27 may be `provided on the exterior of the ltop wall 16 of said closure.

Thatl the dispensible Varticles and spring may beretained in a straight row, one behind another, jparticularlyin the rear part of the body where there yis Aconsiderable space between the bottoinwall and the closure, there Vis provided a-partition 28'inparallel`spacedgrelation to .the bottom wall 12 -and joined to the Ysideandback walls of the bo'dy. Preferably said jpartitionihas .a recess 29, FigjZ, 'in its forward centralportion to lighten the structure land to accommodate the-ejector 25 when the latter is `positioned so as to pass the 'forward Vedge of the partition. This .condition occurs when `the `dispensible articles are relatively larger than those illustrated herein. The forward edge or edge portions of the partition 28 are arcuately beveled from underneath as shown at 30,

Figs. 3 and 5, to permit unobstructed lassembly of the spring and loading of the articles in the body underneath of the partition.

The forward or projection movements of the closure, and hence the ejector 25, are limited by suitable stop means herein shown as'two cooperating lugs ,51 and .32. The stationary lug 3l is on the partition 28 and pro` jects upwardly from said partition into the path vof travel of the'movable lug SZ'pendant Vfrom the inside y.face of the top 16 of the closure il. These lugs are solocated that when the closure is `closed they are slightly farther apart than the distance of the ejector 25 from .the forward Aoutlet -end of the body. This will insure that the Ibefore `the -outward movement of the closure -is halted but will prevent the actual disengagement of the closure from the body. The upper edge of the lug 3i from its forward face and the lower edge of the lug 32 from its rear face are arcuately beveled, as plainly shown in Figs. 3 and 5, to cause lug 32h; ride over lug 3l when the closure is initially lassembled. This is due to the reverse .flexion yof :the vclosure and partition because of the pliable quality of the material from which the apparatus is constructed.

While loading the articles inthe container body the spring .2.6 :may .be l:temporarily Aretained .in an extraordinarily contracted condition, as shown in Fig. 2, by use of any suitable instrument'?, inserted'through the aperture 34 in the partition 2d in front of said spring 26 after it has been contracted the extra extent necessary to position it completely to the rear of said aperture.

Allfexposedcorners of the-body and closure,'that do not 'have to be square for operational reasons, lare rounded to reduce to a minimum the likelihood ofthe device catching in a persons clothing or the .lining of a pocket.

LIn'aCtUalpra'ctCe,'the spring can be contracted beyond its usual position andthe articles loaded into Vthe `body and the `spring holding means withdrawn just prior to theclosure ybeing closed'. As the closure ismovedto the fclosed position the ejector 25 vwill ride 'over the foremost article due to the lliexible quality of the material of =the device Hand the compressible characteristics of'the articles as welltasrthe inclined path of travel of the ejector.

VWhen it is desiredto dispense the articles, the closure l1 A'is projected forwardly with suicient initial force'to releasethe holding means 21-22 and :thereafter with moderate force to move the ejector 25 towards the outlet atthe tforward end of the body. VAs said ejector moves 'forwardl-yit'will engage -the rear of the article at Vthe -forward `rend of the body `and slide said article forward from the `dispenser `body through the outlet. During 'this action-the-ejector 25 continually approaches thebottom '-wall l2 ofthe body itl and provides a positive barrier tothe passage ofthe next succeeding article or fspring 25 through the outlet. As the closure is retracted it will push the next succeeding article rearwardly untilfithe ejector 25 has been Araised "suficiently, due to its lupwardly-inclined travel, to permit said next succeeding-article I'to be propelled `forwardly by the spring 26. This action may be `assisted by the flexible qualities of the material from which .the vdevice is manufactured as -vwellfas :thecompress'ible characteristics of the articles. When the v'-articleis'released by the ejector, as tlie'latter reaches itsfinnermostilocation, said article willbe moved into 4'engagement with the 'front wall 17 'of the .closure and-ahead ofthe fejectorready to be dispensed upon ,the nextf projection of' the closure.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the continuous descent and elevation of the ejector, relative to vthe lbottom wall of the body, during projection and retraction ofthe closure, controls the `ejection of the forward article and the holding of any other articles against passage through the outlet and subsequent release of a succeeding article so as to be moved into the `dispensing position. Only under certain conditions is the flexibility of the'dispenser material and/or the elasticity lor 'compressibility ,of the articles themselves depended upon for efficient operation of the deviceand these certain conditions would arise only when the articles vfniight 4vbe I.slightly oversize.

The device is exceedingly simple in construction and operation, light in vIweight, compact and inexpensive in ihe rcost..of manufacture thus particularly adapting it lto :use .in :connection with -a package 'in which the dispensing container is to be discarded after all of the contentshave been .disposednf .Ofcoursefwe do not wish :to -be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention what we claim as new and useful is:

1. A dispenser for prophylactics comprising a boxlike body normally open at the front and on the top and adapted to contain articles arranged in a row from the front towards the rear, the top of said body sloping downwardly and forwardly, a closure for the front and top slidably attached to the top of said body, and a pendant ejector on said closure in spaced adjacent relation to the front end thereof.

2. The structure according to claim l wherein thc distance of the ejector from front end of the closure is approximately equal to the depth of the articles to be dispensed.

3. The structure according to claim l, in combination with means to limit the sliding movements of the closure, and other means to hold the closure in a closed position.

4. A dispenser of the class described comprising a body including a bottom, rear and side walls leaving the front and top of said body normally open, the up" per edges of said walls sloping downwardly and forwardly, a closure including a top and front wall, means to slidably attach said closure to said side walls in a forwardly sloping direction and completely closing the top and front of said body when the closure is retracted into the backward position, and an ejecting means pendant from the underneath surface of the closure top wall in spaced relation to the front wall, said ejector continually approaching the body bottom wall as the closure is projected forwardly and continually receding as said closure is retracted.

5. The dispenser according to claim 4, in combination with resilient means in the body to urge forwardly articles arranged in a row on the bottom of the body, and wherein the ejector is spaced a distance from the front wall approximately equal to spacing of said articles.

6. The dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the elements of rabbeted joints are formed on the upper edge of the body rear wall, the rear edge of the closure top, the forward edge of the body bottom wall and the lower edge of the closure front wall.

7. A dispenser of the kind mentioned comprising, in combination, a receptacle body normally open at the top and provided with an outlet at the forward end, a closure slidably attached to said receptacle body in a downwardly and forwardly sloping inclined plane, and an ejector pendant from said closure to approach and recede from the bottom of the receptacle as the closure is respectively projected forwardly and retracted.

8. A dispenser for prophylactics comprising a receptacle body of flexible material including bottom, rear and parallel side walls and normally open at the top and front, the latter constituting an outlet for articles positioned in a row on the bottom from front to rear of said body, the upper edges of said side walls sloping downwardly and forwardly and having runway grooves in the inner faces of said walls parallel with and adjacent to said upper edges, a closure including a top wall and pendant front wall to close the top and front of the body, tongues on the side edges of the closure top wall and registering with the runways for slid ably mounting the closure in an inclined plane relative to the bottom wall of the body, an ejector on the inside of the closure pendant from the top wall there of and in spaced adjacent relation to the front wall of said closure and adapted to approach and recede from the body bottom wall as the closure is respectively projected forwardly and retracted, a partition in the rear portion of the body in spaced parallel relation to the body bottom wall, a spring between the body bottom wall and the partition for urging a row of articles resting on said bottom wall forwardly towards the outlet, and means to limit the projecting movements of the closure.

9. The dispenser according to claim 8 wherein the forward edge of the partition is arcuately beveled from the underside.

10. The dispenser according to claim 8 wherein the partition is provided with an aperture for the insertion of an instrument in front of the spring to temporarily hold the latter in an extraordinary contracted position.

l1. The dispenser according to claim 8 wherein the means to limit the projecting movement of the closure comprises a lug pendant from the top wall of the closure adjacent its rear end, and an upwardly projecting lug extending from the partition into the path of travel of the first mentioned lug, said lugs being spaced apart when the closure is closed, a distance approximately equal to the spacing of the ejector from the front wall of the closure.

12. The structure set forth in claim 11 wherein the lower edge of the lug on the closure is arcuately beveled from its rear face and the upper edge of the lug on the partition is arcuately beveled from its forward face.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,245,066 Bouchard June l0, 1941 2,479,592 Tomczak Aug. 23, 1949 2,528,819 Cohn et al Nov. 7, 1950 21,532,083 Brenner Nov. 28, 1950 2,559,287 Duell et al. July 3, 1951 2,567,089 Walsh Sept. 4, 1951 

